Following the meeting the PVEA put out a local press release as follows:

Feb. 8th, 2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Senator Neufeld confirms Site C is not a done deal

On Monday, February 8th, Fort St. John City Council passed a motion to investigate the acknowledged socio-economic costs that construction of the proposed Site C dam would impose on Fort St. John. Thinking ahead, Council voted to hire a consultant to investigate how to mitigate for the impacts that the construction phase will have on the community of Fort St. John and region. The former BC Energy Minister and now federal appointee, Senator Richard Neufeld, confirmed that Site C is not a done deal and also urged council to consider the best interests of the city, as the government will be considering the needs of the rest of province. He made a plea to Mayor Lantz and council “that we get on the train. Whether the train fulfills or not, we don’t know.”

The Peace Valley Environment Association suggests that the council consider the economic consequences left behind in Hudson’s Hope following the construction of the two previous dams on the Peace River. Anyone who has ever driven through Hudson’s Hope can see the true legacy of large hydro dams on local communities; a short-term spike in employment has been offset by a huge drop in population along with dismal business and real estate values. The PVEA believes that we need to achieve the best benefits for Fort St. John and region. We encourage the council to give full consideration to maintaining both a viable long-term economy and a liveable community and region by keeping the Peace Valley intact and to consider other options if the province insists on exporting power.

The Peace Valley is the playground of the Peace Region. Cancelling the dam proposal and removing the flood reserve would provide more public access to the river, would greatly enhance the quality of life for all our residents, and would allow development of the world-class recreation and tourism potential of the Peace Valley. This would also allow the valley to realize its full agricultural potential, supplying enough vegetables for all northern BC residents.

The PVEA is a locally based, long standing organization that considers the Peace Valley to be priceless and is dedicated to protecting the valley for generations to come. Northeastern British Columbians have given up enough already to support the needs of the “rest of BC” and there are better options available to meet our future energy needs. The greatest “benefit” of the Peace Valley would be in providing food, recreation and tourism, and supporting healthy wildlife populations for our grandchildren.